TENS of thousands of people gathered in Derry last niht for the culmination of what is billed as the biggest Halloween party in Europe.
Derry’s annual Halloween festival came to a close with a fabulous carnival parade and fireworks display over the River Foyle.
Organisers said about 80,000 people have visited the city during the festival run – up a quarter on last year.
Thousands more were there on Thursday night as musicians, dancers, street acts and performers lead the finale around the city’s streets.
Jacqueline Whoriskey, Derry City and Strabane District Council’s festival manager, said footfall was up about 25 per cent on 2018.
“It has been absolutely amazing,” she said on Thursday night.
“We’ll do our final count, but we have been really overwhelmed by the amount of people who have come.
“Tonight is the big one. It all culminates tonight, it will be spectacular, and it will be unreal.”
The festivities in Derry have grown to global renown since the first Halloween carnival some 30 years ago.
It is now regarded as among the world’s premier destinations for the holiday as the city gives itself over to ghosts, goblins and devilish delights.
Highlights of this year’s Derry Halloween – which has The Other World Awakens as its theme – have included the Awakening the Walls trail and a first-ever LegenDerry Halloween food event.
The Halloween festival ended with fireworks over the River Foyle
Work will now start immediately on next year’s parade to make it even bigger and better than 2019.
